Experimental Design Concepts and Guidelines

The video tutorial covers a sample experimental design FRQ from 2012, focusing on questions 3A and 3B. It explains the importance of precise language in formulating hypotheses and details the scoring guidelines used by AP readers. The tutorial emphasizes the need for three or more experimental groups, identifying independent and dependent variables, and understanding control groups. It also discusses how to determine if a hypothesis should be rejected based on experimental results.

What year was the experimental design FRQ example given?

• 2010

• 2011

• 2012

• 2013

Which parts of the question are focused on experimental design?

• A and D

• B and C

• A and B

• C and D

What type of vocabulary is important to use in a hypothesis?

• Scientific jargon

• Colloquial terms

• Precise language

• Slang

Which words are crucial to include in a hypothesis according to the guidelines?

• Fast or slow

• Hot or cold

• Big or small

• Increasing or decreasing

What is necessary to establish in a hypothesis according to the scoring guidelines?

• A relationship between variables

• A detailed background

• A conclusion

• A list of materials

How many experimental groups are required to score points?

• One

• Two

• None

• Three or more

What must be identified as part of the experimental design?

• The introduction

• The independent variable

• The hypothesis

• The conclusion

What is the role of the control group in an experiment?

• To increase complexity

• To confuse results

• To serve as a baseline

• To introduce variables

What should be described to reject a hypothesis?

• The experimental setup

• The results that contradict the hypothesis

• The materials used

• The time taken

What is essential to use when describing experimental results?

• Vague terms

• Personal opinions

• Specific language

• General statements